Ben Affleck Played A Real-Life Superhero Actor In This Underrated Mystery Movie – SlashFilm

After a decade of plugging away in Hollywood, Ben Affleck lastly landed on the movie trade’s appearing A-list in 2002 with a pair of bona fide hits in “The Sum of All Fears” and “Altering Lanes.” Then 2003 occurred.

Whereas “Daredevil” was technically a success, the movie was tepidly obtained by critics and comedian e book followers. Affleck was displeased with the film and instructed twentieth Century Fox he would solely return to the function of Matt Murdock in the event that they went in a darker course. As an alternative, they made the godawful spin-off “Elektra” starring Jennifer Garner, which successfully killed the franchise. This was the one good factor that occurred to Affleck’s profession that yr. In July, he shared the display along with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez in Martin Brest’s infamous flop “Gigli,” which obtained savage opinions and grossed a ghastly $7.2 million in opposition to a $75.6 million price range. Affleck’s 2003 concluded with John Woo’s “Paycheck,” an entertaining sci-fi motion flick that fell far wanting industrial expectations.

Affleck wanted a bounce-again yr, and 2004 wasn’t it. Kevin Smith’s “Jersey Lady” upset, and the yuletide comedy “Surviving Christmas” bombed. Affleck was determined for a success at this level, however he opted to guess on himself as an actor by enjoying tv star George Reeves in “Hollywoodland.” Reeves’ profession was outlined by his portrayal of the Man of Metal within the Nineteen Fifties tv sequence “Adventures of Superman,” however, having gotten a style of status success as one in all Scarlett O’Hara’s suitors in “Gone with the Wind,” he yearned to be taken severely as a performer. Alas, in line with Reeves, he was so deeply typecast as Superman that he could not e book first rate dramatic work. Then, in 1959, he was found in his Beverly Hills home with a bullet in his head.

Paul Bernbaum’s “Hollywoodland” was a sizzling script when Focus Options acquired it in 2001. The corporate acquired the promising duo of Michael and Mark Polish (“Twin Falls Idaho”) to direct the movie, and forged Benicio Del Toro to play protagonist Louis Simo, a down-and-out personal investigator who digs into Reeves’ alleged suicide when he discovers the LAPD is likely to be overlaying up proof. This model of the movie finally fell aside, however the mission was revived years later with a brand new forged after playwright Howard Korder rewrote Bernbaum’s screenplay.

Main film stars like Hugh Jackman, Viggo Mortensen, and Dennis Quaid had been thought of for the a part of Reeves, however Ben Affleck aggressively pursued the function. If new director Allen Coulter, extremely regarded for his work on “The Sopranos,” delivered on the script’s promise, Affleck may very well be a contender. Affleck researched each facet of Reeves’ life. After a string of field workplace failures as a star, he would redeem himself as an artist.

Affleck offers a stellar efficiency as a flustered Reeves, who unwisely takes up with Toni Mannix (Diane Lane), the spouse of MGM fixer Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). As Simo probes Reeves’ life, we’re given the actor’s aspect of the story, together with a number of detours into apocryphal occasions (most notably Fred Zinnemann slicing down his half in “From Right here to Eternity”). On the outset of the film, it appears apparent that Reeves was murdered. By the tip, Simo sees by the actor’s self-pitying legend. His desires outstripped his expertise. It is a showbiz tragedy.

“Hollywoodland” underperformed on the field workplace, and whereas Affleck obtained a few of his greatest opinions ever as an actor as much as that time, he was denied a Finest Supporting Actor nomination. Six years later, Affleck received Finest Image for “Argo.” That is an honest comfort prize.